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We had an U18 game last night?

According to Irchester we beat them 3-2 and put out a very strong side which 'boasted ex KTFC and RDFC academy players'

i think that was the under 17's who are playing in the Under 18 John Henry league next season, but i could be wrong!

Off their Facebook Page:

"Well done to our boys tonight in their first pre-season game, and their first ever game as a new squad.

Irchester had a squad of 17, and everyone had a good run out. Diamonds put out a decent side, made up of some of their U18 squad from last season, and new players, which boasts ex K*ttering Town academy players, and ex (the real) Rushden & Diamonds (before they folded) academy players.

Irchester started very brightly, and kept the ball well in the first half, with plenty of quick passing and movement. Diamonds were camped in their own half for most of the first half, and hit us on the break when they could. Irchester had plenty of chances but seemed to do too much around the oppositions box, or too little (things to work on in training!).
Diamonds went a goal up after 20 minutes, although the main opinion was that it was a foul on our keeper, but the ref (our U18 assistant!) is just too nice!
Irchester equalised a few minutes later with a Michael Dimmock free kick, who picked his spot and coolly slotted it past the Diamonds keeper who didn’t move a muscle as he watched the ball drive into the corner of his goal.
More Irchester pressure was good to watch, but the chances were frustratingly not taken.
Diamonds went 2-1 up not long before half time, from a corner which seemed to hit several players as we tried to clear it, but it fell to a Diamonds player on our 6 yard box, who smashed it into an empty net.

The second half wasn’t as good for either side, as both sides made several continuous changes to give everyone a game, and the rain came lashing down which didn’t help the football either. Diamonds had less subs to use, and looked the more comfortable side in the second half. They went 3-1 up midway through the second half when our keeper sliced a routine clearance, and failed to get back on to his goal line, and was caught ballwatching as a Diamonds player took advantage of the mistake. Everyone makes mistakes, and our boys are only boys, and have a lot to learn. Best to get them out of the way in friendlies!
Five minutes from time, in the bitter cold and pouring rain, Irchester pulled a goal back through a Cordell Noel-Francis coolly slotted finish past the Diamonds keeper.
Kwesi Darkwa missed a sitter towards the end, which summed up our night."

BartonRaz wrote:We had an U18 game last night?

According to Irchester we beat them 3-2 and put out a very strong side which 'boasted ex KTFC and RDFC academy players'

I can confirm that it WAS our new u17 side that beat Irchester last night (we all got extremely wet again!!).

I think they are trying to mask what was a disappointing overall performance from a squad that will be in the same division as our u18s this season by suggesting we fielded a side full of ex-Diamonds and K*ttering academy players!!

Shows though that we have a bit of strength in depth and there are definitely one or two that I wouldn`t hesitate `promoting` to the 18s.

I can concur, it lashed it down during the second half, so I retired to the car although was already totally saturated, despite sharing discodunc's umberella. Jake Reynolds and Ben Roche and my lad had a run out from last years U18s (although I think I'm right in saying they're all 17 or under?). I'm sure Jake's got even bigger since the end of the season, what the hell have you been feeding him dunc??